It's a shame that the series is so mainstream in pop culture because it's hard to avoid. I will not watch the show and try to avoid speaking about it with people who do.
I've come to despise the show and will only watch after the entire book series is finished (I know I know, that's going to be a loooong time).

Obvious- Stannis
Overrated- Randyl Tarly. He's done very well recently in the books, but who wouldn't when you have Lannister and Tyrell men and funding?
Underrated- Bryden Blackfish Tully. The strategy to most of Robb's victories were the Blackfish's ideas.

Dude, I still need to read your thesis on the Battle of Fire. I skimmed through this and it looks just as promising as your other work. That being said, it's going to take me a while to get through it. Thanks though! Your work is always very thought provoking and, for me, convincing. Thank you.

@ OP Werthead I feel like your last 'edit' really revamped what your originial OP was. Is that info somewhere else now? It was almost GRRM's life story starting in the early 90's and sort of the obstacles he overcame to write the books. I remember info about the '5 year gap' was included in the original OP. Am I going crazy? Was that actually what your original OP was about? If so, where did that info go?

Have we established which episodes will have which weddings? I though I've read somewhere on here that they were going to do the Purple Wedding this season. Is Tyrion and Sansa in episode 8? I'm pretty sure RW is episode 9. Any insight anyone?

Couple questions about Theon. I know what happens in the books, but I'm not sure what Weiss and Benioff are going with things. Is the guy that helped Theon escape the same guy that saved him from the 3 soldiers? Why would Ramsay kill Bolton men? I would have thought that Ramsay sent those three men, or that he was one of them. Basically, can someone explain that part?

I've heard that they're going to do AFFC and ADWD at the same time. Whereas GRRM split the characters in the books, it would be odd to not have Jon Snow for an entire season on the HBO show. So, AFFC+ADWD should still combine to take 3 years. They also have the option to not start every March. Example ASOS1- March 2013 ASOS2- July 2014 Feast+Dance1- November 2015 Feast+Dance2- March 2017 Dance 3- July 2018 TWOW1- September 2019 TWOW2- December 2020 So, by completely random and unofficial (but certain to happen) schedule, GRRM has until the end of 2020, early 2021 to release A Dream of Spring. They could even debut the book and last season in the same week.

I think they'd start the seasons later. Each season has started in March-ish. They could move season four to summer 2014, and then season 5 to fall 2015, or something like that. I can't see the TV show overtaking the series. Although, I think I'm just lying to myself.

I gave it a 5. I hated the opening scene at the tournament. I wanted more. Tyrion was awesome, as were Cersei and Joffrey. I actually don't hate Cersei and Joff as much as I did while reading. What was that about killing the babies. That wasn't in the book. I felt that that was uncalled for.

I'm going to remain optimistic no matter what, but I think that the hard part of the writing is out of the way. A Feast for Crows was a hard read, and I can't imagine how challenging it was to write. A Dance was a little complicated too. After ADWD I think things are really in place to speed up. There are battles going on everywhere, and less chugging through issues. He doesn't need to introduce new characters, (Arianne, Iron Island POV's), Mereen has reached a boiling point, drastic things are happening in the north, Bran finally made it to the 3-eyed bird, etc. I'm going to hope that it'll be easy writing from here on out. I can only see Arya and Sansa being a little tricky to bring them back from obscurity.